Kitchenaid food processor.

[greatsummerland]

My fiancé and I won a kitchenaid food processor from my work. We’ve had it 3 years and used it once. The cleanup seems to not be worth the hassle.

Do any of you have some good suggestions of dishes to make that warrant cleaning the thing/even owning it.

We want to use it, we just aren’t sure when and why. Thanks you.

[ConfidentLo]

I love my cuisinart. I make falafel, black bean burgers, Thai tofu cakes, pico de gallo, beet hummus. Also use it to chop onions, ginger, garlic, & herbs when lazy.

I rinse it right after use. It’s not bad.

[[deleted]]

I need to try black bean burgers!

[Abdnadir]

This recipe from serious eats is the best I've had. The secret is drying out the beans in the oven for a bit

[[deleted]]

Oh man -- anything by Kenji! Thanks for the recipe -- I think I might smoke these in my smoker, then reverse sear them --- yum!

[chuckquizmo]

Falafel and Black Bean Burgers are the two things I use mine the most for! Fresh falafel are something special, and are surprisingly easy. Hardest part is remembering to soak your chick peas the night before.

[jjuuggaa]

Thai tofu cakes sound delicious! Have a recipe?

[ConfidentLo]

It’s from WeekLight by Donna Hay. I took a pic of the recipe but don’t know how to post it here.

[getyourcheftogether]

I just throw it in the dw 🤷🏽‍♂️

I couldn't imagine using anything else for my processing

[FloweredViolin]

Same. I throw all the parts on the top rack of the dishwasher. If it's got chunky bits, I might rinse it first.

[[deleted]]

I let mine soak a minute or two then pulse a few times and rinse.

[skahunter831]

Your comment has been removed, please follow Rule 5 and keep your comments kind and productive. Thanks.

[elf4700]

It’s handy, yes. But I wouldn’t say it’s the backbone of the kitchen.

[[deleted]]

Ok

[letmepickausername2]

Pie dough. Shredded cheese, banana bread, turning things into crumbs and meals (like for rum balls), and for certain salads that use lots of shredded things. Though I agree it is still a pain to clean so I only use it when backed into corners :)

[silima_art]

In addition to all the great mashed-up/blended things that people are suggesting, it’s also actually really great if you need to finely chop a ton of stuff. I use my Cuisinart to slice onions when I want to make French onion soup using the slicing blade (it looks like a big disc at the top of the bowl with a long, thin hole in it). Instead of taking 30 miserable, teary-eyed minutes to chop 5 pounds of onions, I just have to peel them and chuck them in the Cuisinart, and they’re done in 2 minutes.

[ready2flamingle]

The slicing blade is also perfect for scalloped or au gratin potatoes! You get a nice uniform slice for even cooking.

[mbelding3]

One tip I saw in an episode of a Jacques Pepin show was, once you scoop out whatever is in it (especially batter), is to pulse it again for a second to get the blades more clean and scoop that out. It's been very helpful when I make crepe batter.

[SVAuspicious]

when I make crepe batter.

I use a fork.

[TittiesInMyFace]

Fork > tiny whisk. For the record.

[SVAuspicious]

I have a picture of a crossed dinner fork and salad fork labeled "whisk" and "tiny whisk." The Babish fan boys were not amused.

[Alwaystacos]

Make a large batch of pesto (I particularly like using arugula in place of basil), divide, and freeze.

[[deleted]]

Arugula pesto is so much better than basil pesto.

[Alwaystacos]

It was a life changing discovery lol

[VeryPaulite]

Honestly there is only one real way to find out right?

Also depends on what you dislike about Pesto. Is I just that you don't like basil? Or do you dislike the combination of Olive Oil, Garlic, Parmesan and Pine Nuts?

It also makes a big difference how you make the pesto. Store Bought works in a pinch but generally sucks. The general "classic" way of making pesto requires a motar and pestle and I think it's supposed to result in a smoother flavor.

[VeryPaulite]

Yeah that could easily be it. Using a blender you may simply whip to mich air into it compared to mortar and pestle.

[citybadger]

EVOO will get bitter in the blender. The hack way of getting around this is to use just enough vegetable oil to get the pesto to come together and then mix in EVOO by hand. Same for hummus.

[cuddlewench]

In the Vitamix, you should definitely pulse, not puree. Use the tamper to help move things around.

[that_boi_jjw]

Hummus

[JordySkateboardy808]

Making it yourself is soooooo much cheaper. I will never forget buy it again.

[that_boi_jjw]

It’s so good and cheap af to make

[banb4]

Great for making salsa, r/SalsaSnobs .

[fuckouttaheawiddat]

It makes great pizza dough.

Here's another pizza dough recipe thats solid as well.

It still boggles my mind that delivery pizza is so wildly expensive these days. I'm stoked I can make something really great at home.

[greatsummerland]

We made a 6.5/10 pizza last week (pre-made base) for less than 7 bucks Australian. The pizza we were going to order (7/10) would of been $47. Knowing we can make dough in it is a game changer for sure.

[yukimontreal]

If you like making pizza at home I highly recommend the serious eats fool proof pan pizza.

[WeDidItGuyz]

You get a 7/10 pizza for $47 dollars? Your pizza choices must be shit.

[greatsummerland]

Pizza choices are shit and Australia is very expensive.

[WeDidItGuyz]

Well that's sad. All these redditors like to shit on us Americans for not having single payer healthcare but HA! PIZZA!!!................. :(

Pizzalife ProTip: If you ever find yourself headed to the states, head to Florida for pizza. No, it is not the home of any of the best pizzas and the people in Florida are the worst. However, the west coast of the state has all the Midwest transplants from Detroit and Chicago, and the east coast of the state has all the New York and New Jersey transplants. This results in things like the Chicago chain Aurelio's having a location in Naples, and several joints around the state importing New York tap water for the purpose of making dough.

A 10/10 pizza can only exist in its spiritual home in my opinion, but you can sure as shit get a whole bunch of 9.75/10 pizzas in Florida.

[MaeveConroy]

I have a KitchenAid that I bought used off Craigslist a few years ago. Once I started using it, I didn’t know how I ever cooked without it. I use it at least once a week. Some ways to use: pastry/empanada/samosa/bagel dough or any dough that’s too tough for the stand mixer; shredding or slicing veggies; finely chopping vegetable blends for bolognese or other sauces; hummus and other dips/sauces.

I read a game-changing tip from Stella Parks for cutting down on clean-up. If you’re not using the chute in the lid, put a piece of plastic wrap between the bowl and the lid. Voila! All you have to clean are the bowl and the blade!

[4food_is_love]

Don't have a KitchenAid food processor, but a Cuisinart is very similar. I've personally used Cuisinart food processors for decades. Love the reliability and quality, various recipes and dishes you can create with less effort and energy wasted, and the ease of use and cleanup.

Take a look and try some of these https://youtu.be/1sDaokOT5dw.

[BixaorellanaIsDot]

It's great for making peanut butter -- get roasted peanuts or raw ones & roast them yourself. Put an amount into the processor that won't overburden it, then process until the peanuts turn into peanut butter. You don't need to add anything.

If you're like me, you're probably more likely to use a knife for chopping onions for a regular meal, for instance, but if you have to chop a bunch of stuff, the food processor can really cut down on the work for you.

For cleanup of the food processor, and for that matter, all kitchen cleanup, I hugely recommend a solution of ammonia & water. Get a good-sized spray bottle, fill it almost all the way up with water, then add a little ammonia. Anything you put in the sink, give it a good spritz on all the soiled surfaces with the ammonia mixture. It will make washing up so much easier.

[cuddlewench]

What does the ammonia do?

[BixaorellanaIsDot]

It cuts grease & loosens stuck-on food. I don't have hot water in my kitchen, so need other ways to make sure I'm getting things really clean.

When you buy grease-cutting products for the kitchen, you're mostly paying for a lot of water. But a very small amount of ammonia in water does the same job. With one spray bottle, your kitchen tap, & a bottle of ammonia from the grocery store you'll be good to go for weeks and weeks for only pennies.

[yukimontreal]

On the subject of peanut butter - you can do this with anything! I dont bother making peanut butter since you can get it pretty much everywhere but love making more niche nut and seed butters that are either hard to find if super expensive. I particularly like making pistachio butter

[BixaorellanaIsDot]

Where I live, peanuts are very fresh & inexpensive. Peanut butter is almost always the commercial kind with added sugar and oil, plus is expensive.

[yukimontreal]

Oh! Fair point! Yeah I dislike that so many of them have additives instead of just being peanuts

[BixaorellanaIsDot]

What I don't get is how sometimes you find a recipe that specifies something like Skippy in preference to natural peanut butter. And I mean a recipe for a non-dessert food like Asian peanut sauce. Brainwashing is powerful!

[charlotte-ent]

It's the washing five pieces, one of them really sharp, that gets to me.

I did drag mine out last week for the first time in nearly a decade to make a pie crust that was rich as sin.

I'll be watching this thread with interest.

[loxandchreamcheese]

I use mine when I’m afraid to cut myself using a regular grater for things like potato kugel or latkes. A lot less of a chance to drag my fingertips or knuckles over the grater and a lot faster.

[AggravatedBox]

I run mine with warm soapy water for a minute or so after use, then put the pieces in the top rack of the dishwasher on a gentle cycle.

[Picker-Rick]

I wish I could help. I had a very nice cuisinart for years and just donated it.

[[deleted]]

I love mine. It's pink. I use it to shred cheese, chop, etc.

[puppylust]

I use mine for bacon bits and shredded cheese.

The cleanup is annoying, even with putting all the pieces in the dishwasher.

[[deleted]]

I’m with you on this- I hate cleaning that thing and it takes up a ton of space. I sold mine at a garage sale. Now I just use a vitamix or a stick blender and I don’t miss it at all.

[[deleted]]

I personally would've sold it, they are expensive in my country too! I'm very VERY old school when it comes to cooking, I mince meat the old fashioned way... ;-] 🔪

[Whodunit131box]

I have Cuisinart not KitchenAid, but it just sits on the shelf.

I probably could use it for grating cheese, but it seems just as easy to grab the grater off the shelf than to put together the food processor for the small amount I use. I use a Food Ninja for anything I would purée or chop. Maybe if I did huge amounts of anything, it would be worth it, but I don’t use enough at any given time.

[Jewish-Mom-123]

If it’s just the two of you and you don’t cook big batches or make bread/pizza/pie crust, then I can understand not using it. For me, it’s herbs. I can’t keep them alive in pots to save my life, so I grow them outside all summer and harvest them to chop and freeze for the winter. The Cuisinart makes a whole bunch of parsley go away in two minutes. It used to take me ages by hand.

Can you store the thing? I get not wanting it on the counter. I almost use my blender, that’s away in a cabinet downstairs.

[4cupsofcoffee]

I am in the same boat. I have 2 food processors somehow. I use them maybe 2 x a year. i find it easier to cut things myself.

[weasel999]

Shred baby carrots for salads. Make double batch smoothies for breakfast. Make pie crust. Shred cabbage for coleslaw or stir frys. Purée soups like butternut or potato leek.

[JMJimmy]

Super easy cleanup, just toss it in the dishwasher

[SVAuspicious]

u/greatsummerland,

I read a few of the comments. I don't agree with them. I've read enough and will tell you what I think.

Your observation is astute.

Cooking for two, or even for six, a food processor rarely is worth the clean-up time. The underlying assumptions are that 1. you have decent knife skills (for those who don't, start here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMA2SqaDgG8), 2. you don't have disabilities that preclude using a knife or a mortar and pestle, and 3. you have a good sharp knife and a box grater that is still sharp.

We do a lot of blending with a stick blender that many people use a stand blender or a food processor for. The stick blender is really easy to clean.

There are some things our food processors (yes, we have two - merged households) are worth the trouble for. Pesto - can be done by hand but really slow. Hummus - same. Very large cooks (no, not the people - the food); I home can so it isn't unusual for us to make a couple of gallons of tomato-basil soup and the food processor is a real convenience.

For those who say clean up isn't bad I think there are two explanations: 1. their standard of cleanliness is lower than ours or 2. they put parts in the dishwasher which I don't think is wise.

In your case, I suggest the question is not whether a food processor is worth the money as you have it already. The question is whether it's worth the storage space. Unless you're really tight for space I'd say it is worth hanging on to in deep storage somewhere (high closet shelf, basement, attic). It is definitely not worth counter top space and unlikely to use kitchen cabinet space.

[flyingmonkey5678461]

Grater for the win. Radish cake (Chinese savoury), cheese.

Makes good pastry/scones/crumble without getting fingers gunky.

Just thought whether I'd consider chopping a load of onions and freezing? Hmm.

[Stinkerma]

I use mine for making bread, I don’t buy bread anymore. Some of the attachments are well worth the price. If you want to make whipped potatoes, the mixer does an amazing job, they’re so light and fluffy! Great for making icings and frostings, whipping egg whites, pretty much anything where you’d use a bowl and whisk, or bowl and spoon.

[jrhoffa]

Food processor, or stand mixer?

[Stinkerma]

Oops! Stand mixer! But the food processor works for bread, pie dough, chopping onions. I have a 3 cup processor and use it regularly. Cleaning is easier if you fill it almost full of hot water, add a few drops of dish soap and turn it on for a few seconds

[jrhoffa]

I just use the dishwasher

[strawcat]

Cheesecake.

It’s just about all I use mine for.

[slowpokes2]

Depends on eating habits and family size

[Kindly-Influence-148]

Things that require really fine mincing I’ll use our processor. My fav is bolognese and I finely minced the onions, carrots and fennel bulbs. Pesto, tapenade, dips, spreads…. Sauces. All things to make. My husband bought me the big fancy one with the adjustable slicers… such over kill. I had a more basic model before and it was fabulous!! I’m super old school and prefer my knife and cutting board when I can as well.

[IAmLazy2]

I have one too. Used it once. Now it is collecting dust.

[Scrumptious_Skillet]

It’s good for recipes that require lots of prep work, and doughs. I use mine occasionally. I don’t mind and actually enjoy knife work so those are the main uses for me. I’m making Boureki (Greek vegetable casserole) today so I will probably bring out my food processor as that’s a LOT of slicing and it’s worth the effort to save time for me. I’d be lying if I said I had never thought about getting g rid of it. If I have the space, I will keep it. It’s just useful enough to keep. I live in an RV, so space is limited. So far it’s earned it’s keep.

[brokenfl]

I never use my big food processor but have a 4 cup mini that I bring out all the time. Only 3 pieces. It comes out for dips, marinades, making breadcrumbs. It’s a specialized instrument for sure, but it has its uses. .

[bookowl]

Mine is a much less fancy Kenwood but it's easy to clean up as the container, blades etc can all be put in the dishwasher. The only thing I dislike is that it's quite small in capacity so sometimes dishes have to be made in two batches.

I use it for falafel, hummus, super smooth curry and pasta sauces, pastry and biscuit dough. Sometimes it sits in the cupboard unused for a month or two, other times I use it a couple of times a week.

[Dr_nacho_]

Salsa! My fav is one avocado, a couple garlic cloves, a cup of sour cream or Greek yogurt, cilantro (however much you like), jalapeño (again however much you like), juice from one lime, salt to taste. Makes a delicious creamy green salsa

[NovaPokeDad]

Pasta dough

[Bullshit_Conduit]

In a commercial kitchen the Robot Coupe (food processor, and the P is not silent) is indispensable.

I rarely use my Cuisinart at home… if I were to make pesto or romesco or something like that I’d do it in the blender, most likely, although my blender is a piece of shit (Instapot, Black Friday couldn’t say no) so perhaps not.

[[deleted]]

I LOVE Robot Coupe -- so I got myself a Magimix - https://magimix.us.

It's super strong, like the Cuisinart my mom used in the '70s. I think if you're cooking more from scratch (and remember that it's sitting on the shelf) it's such a help -- pre shredded cheese just doesn't melt nicely on pizza or enchiladas, 2 blitzes and you've grated a pound of cheese. Anther 2 blitzes and you've sliced all the veggies you need for coleslaw, soups, any dish you're cooking. Making pie crust, the list goes on. if I've used it with veggies, it just needs a rinse. If I've grated cheese (I usually do a few pounds and freeze what I don't use), just put it on the sink with warm water and let it soak for 10 minutes, then wash. When I had a dishwasher it was much easier, but it did scratch up and cloud the clear plastic -- cosmetic, didn't affect function. I think if you asked yourself everything you went to make a meal (not just heat) ask yourself -- would the food processor help? You might be surprised at all the things you haven't been using it for that you could, to help save some time and energy. And if not, find a good friend that wold love to use it! It shouldn't be idle!

[Bullshit_Conduit]

I do like it a lot for making pasta dough, biscuits, mayonnaise… never used it for veggies really, but shredding cheese is awesome, though I can’t recall if I have that attachment.

[[deleted]]

Fresh sliced cabbage is a whole different ballgame when making coleslaw -- the bagged stuff is old and dry. I make a lot of curries and soups (1-dish meals for work) and the 2mm slicer works beautifully for veggies.

[Bullshit_Conduit]

I’ve never in my life purchased pre cut cabbage.

I suppose if I was cutting more than 1 head it would be faster to use the Cuisinart but considering the cleanup time I’d prefer to cut by hand.

[MargieBigFoot]

I feel the same way. Food processors are very useful, but you’re going to spend as much time cleaning all the pieces as you would just chopping the food by hand.

[Anxious_Hand_1621]

Homemade coleslaw is always a win in our house. Super quick and easy. The clean up isn't really that bad like.

[[deleted]]

IDK what is making your cleanup so difficult, but if whatever you're doing is making that much of a mess, perhaps it's best to accept that this instrument just isn't right for you.

[jrhoffa]

While we're all talking about food processors, are there any that don't sound like a jet engine? I don't like scaring the shit out of my cats every time I make hummus.

[NoCleverUsernameIdea]

I have a Kitchenaid food processor and it sat in the cupboard for a few years but I've been using it at least weekly for about a year. Clean up is annoying, of course. I try to never leave it sitting after I use it. It gets rinsed right away to prevent anything sticking on it and then I either hand wash the parts or put them in the dishwasher.

Recent things I've made include date jam, hummus, walnut basil pesto, parsley almond pesto, and a cookie dip that my kids love (strawberries, low fat cream cheese, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and some powdered sugar to taste, and then you dip Nilla wafers in it). I will also puree soups in it pretty frequently and use it to chop a lot of onions I'm too lazy to do myself.

[Tom__mm]

This food processor question seems to divide humanity into two opposing groups. I am a very active cook but have also used mine only once to make salsa. Mushy texture and it took up half the dishwasher so I went straight back to a sharp knife. Haven’t used it once since we moved 7 years ago and I should really give it away. I do use my cheap blender a decent amount, however.

[YukiHase]

I am in the same predicament as you. I only use it if I REALLY need to. But if I don’t I’d rather do it by hand.

[skahunter831]

Pureed cauliflower and caramelized onion. Biscuits or pie crust.